Manga Bookshelf

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Sean Gaffney

Bookshelf Briefs 12/10/12

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This week, Sean, MJ, Anna, & Michelle look at recent releases from VIZ Media, Seven Seas, Yen Press, Kodansha Comics, and Vertical, Inc.!

Ai Ore!, Vol. 7 | By Mayu Shinjo | VIZ Media – I’m starting to get the feeling that Shinjo is beginning to lose interest in her own series, and am somewhat relieved that the next volume will be the last. Once again we see how well-adjusted Mizuki is when not thinking about Akira, and how thinking about him makes her a nervous wreck. The same applies, of course, to Akira in reverse – and it’s lampshaded by the other characters that this has been going on a bit too long. The main plot here involves Akira starting a solo career, seemingly in a bid to gain Mizuki’s attention. Of course, he has to sing as a girl, which leads to his photographer/manager (who doesn’t seem to care about his true gender) hitting on him and forcing him to question why he does all this cross-dressing. It’s sad that this series has gone from appalling to funny to sweet and now to boring. – Sean Gaffney

Alice in the Country of Clover: Cheshire Cat Waltz, Vol. 3 | By QuinRose and Mamenosuke Fujimaru | Seven Seas – I’m going to have to come out and say it—I found Peter White the most interesting part of this volume. And given that I don’t like Peter at all, that’s saying something. But of course, that’s the point. Peter’s constant war between “I want Alice to be mine” and “I want Alice to be happy” seems to have finally swung in the “happy” direction, and so he has to stay away from her for the sake of her memories. It’s nice to see the main plotline of AitCoH get brought up again, reminding us that despite all the fluffy romance with Boris, everyone here is working with one goal in mind, which is to prevent Alice from recalling some psychological trauma involving her sister. And yes, Boris is doing that too. Will this threaten their relationship? Read on! – Sean Gaffney

Cage of Eden, Vol. 8 | By Yoshinobu Yamada | Kodansha Comics – It’s a shame the fanservice is so blatant and sexist, because this really is quite a fun adventure/thriller manga. There’s young men fighting twenty-foot-tall horse/bear hybrids by kicking them in the face, there’s intriguing plot revelations that force you to rethink everything about the premise (the view from the mountain), and there’s mystery elements that unfortunately seem to reinforce one of the manga’s main themes, “almost all adults are evil,” But really, Cage of Eden 8 can be defined by its cover, featuring Yarai looking grim and cool while carrying his teacher in a way that displays her ass to the reader in the most blatant way possible. Jump may try to quietly cater to both male and female readers – Magazine never bothers. But, getting past the boobs, butts and more boobs, it’s genuinely intriguing. – Sean Gaffney

Limit, Vol. 2 | By Keiko Suenobu | Vertical, Inc. – After the first volume’s wild drama, things remain tense and messy in volume two, as the girls figure out their own strategies for survival in a scenario where they are forced to depend on those they most certainly can’t trust. Though some of the character development may seem obvious, there are a few genuine surprises in the mix, and all the girls’ stories are well-told in Keiko Suenobu’s deft hands. Though capable Kamiya, with her well-honed survival skills and calm focus, is the most objectively impressive character in this volume, it’s popular girl Konno who experiences the greatest (and most surprising) personal growth. This series continues to maintain a delicate balance between its scathing commentary on teen social politics and its expressive shoujo artwork, cementing it as one of my favorite debut series of the year. Highly recommended. – MJ

Oresama Teacher, Vol. 12 | By Izumi Tsubaki | VIZ Media -Oresama Teacher is a bit predictable, and I am growing a little tired of the parade of cute young men with severe psychological issues that end up causing chaos in ex-delinquent Mafuyu’s new life. But it also consistently makes me laugh every time I pick up a volume due to the lunacy of the situations and visual gags. In this volume, Mafuyu deals with Aya’s past and gets some unwelcome attention from a new transfer student at her school. I was also happy to see the return of the school’s former Bancho, and his reaction to seeing Mafuyu and Aya talking together was priceless. I hope that the series swings back to the larger plotline about Takaomi and the redemption of the school, but as long as Oresama Teacher continues to reliably deliver funny moments I’m going to keep reading. – Anna N

Paradise Kiss, Vol. 2 | By Ai Yazawa | Vertical, Inc. – Each time I re-read this series, I am surprised all over again by how complex Yukari’s feelings for George are and how seriously cruel he can be, but this time, there’s more. Vertical’s gorgeous reprint of this series also brings into focus just how damned alluring George is, and how genuinely sexy and romantic Yukari’s relationship is with him at times, which really only complicates things more. Emotional complication is nearly always a very good thing, and that’s certainly the case here, especially in this volume, where Yukari is struggling so desperately with first love along with understanding the power (and terror) of exercising her own free will. My earlier reservations about this version’s English adaptations were smoothed over by this volume, which neatly swept me away without distraction. Highly recommended. – MJ

Real, Vol. 11 | By Takehiko Inoue | VIZ Media – Nomiya takes center stage in this volume, as the time has finally come for him to try out for the Tokyo Lightnings, a pro team. As a devotee of sports manga, I found the whole process undeniably riveting, and even somewhat verklempt-inducing since Nomiya, though lacking in various skills and experience, is nonetheless able to display his best qualities on the court and as a person. (Spoiler: we’re going to have to wait another year for volume twelve to learn whether he’s made the team or not.) Meanwhile, Togawa’s wheelchair basketball team, the Tigers, acquires a feisty new coach and Takahashi, still doing rehabilitation in the hospital, takes a competition wheelchair for a spin. Real is full of struggle and effort, and we’ve seen these protagonists dispirited before. But now, when they’re on the cusp of achieving something so meaningful, the payoff is immensely sweet. Very strongly recommended. – Michelle Smith

Slam Dunk, Vol. 25 | By Takehiko Inoue | VIZ Media – I always put down a volume of an Inoue manga feeling like I’ve witnessed a very entertaining masterclass in storytelling. Slam Dunk always balances the psychological aspects of playing sports with incredibly well-executed action scenes. The Shohoku team is about to play the tournament favorites Sannoh, and the early part of the volume deals with team strategy on both sides. We see the cipher-like coach of Shohoku knowing just what to say to each of his players to ensure that they won’t be intimidated by their opposing team, and the formation of a new cohesive team identity. There are always a few moments from Slam Dunk that stand out in my mind after I close each volume, and in this case it is the identical looks of disbelief on Sakuragi and Miyagi’s faces when Sakuragi actually manages to do something cool in a competitive game after Miyagi feeds him the ball. – Anna N

Vampire Knight, Vol. 15 | By Matsuri Hino | VIZ Media – For all that it features really hot and sexy vampires being hot, this volume of Vampire Knight excels because it focuses on what Matsuri Hino writes best—politics. Kaname is physically absent from this volume except in a couple of flashbacks, but the aftermath of his actions at the end of the last volume reverberate throughout. Yuki is trying to hold everything together, and in fact given the lack of faith many have in her what she achieves is surprising, but I can’t help but feel, like Zero, that it’s not going to hold up for very long. It’s especially not helped by the presence of Sara, who is such an obvious villain that she gets to simply walk around being villainous and wait for anyone to bother to prove it. And yes, if you do like vampires, there’s even some interesting vampire stuff here. Still addicting soap opera. – Sean Gaffney

Danza

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By Natsume Ono. Released in Japan by Kodansha, serialized in the magazine Morning Two. Released in North America by Kodansha Comics.

After seeing how popular (well, popular with manga bloggers) Natsume Ono’s other works were when Viz Media was putting her stuff out, Kodansha decided they wanted to get in on the game as well. After all, Ono didn’t only write for Ikki and Manga Erotics F, she also did stuff for Morning Two, Kodansha’s alternative manga magazine best known for Saint Young Men (which will never be licensed here ever). And Danza seems to be a good test market – it’s a collection of one-shot short stories, so little investment is required, and it deals with the same thing most of Ono’s best manga deal with – awkward conversations between people who have trouble communicating.

As with a lot of short story collections, it’s a mixed bag. Viz also did some of her collected short stories, and I think it shows that she works better at a slightly longer form with characters we can invest in (such as Ristorante Paradiso/Gente). Of course, this doesn’t mean that this collection doesn’t have some excellent stuff. But these are stories that are meant to provoke a wistful mood, with only one of them (involving Italian ices and police officers) even getting close to giving me a wry grin. When you draw mild, somewhat sad low-key manga, you need to anticipate that the reaction will be somewhat low-key as well. There’s also one short-story here that didn’t work for me, involving time-travel and father-son relationships. I felt this one added one too many plot complications, which is ironic given that almost 40 of its 60 pages are taken up with sitting at a table talking.

But as I said above, when Ono is on her game there’s no one I enjoy reading better. The best stories here involve things, again, I’ve seen from her before – grumpy fathers (or father figures) who gruffly disguise any feelings or emotions they may have under a veneer of indifference, doubly helped by the fact that they’re taciturn and uncommunicative naturally. Long pauses, saying things slightly poorly, shutting up for hours because you don’t want to risk spoiling the mood further… these are all things any reader is familiar with no matter what the country. And these stories (which take place in not only Italy, Ono’s default country, but also the United States and Japan)make you yearn for that connection, make you want to see everyone work it out. You want to see people talk, but it’s not drawn out enough that you’re yelling at the page.

As for Ono’s art, it is what it is, and I don’t think too many people read the story for her expressions. Which is a shame, as they fit her mood so well. If you have skill at drawing men who sort of frown and glance downwards furtively, well then write stories that use that! Ono’s heroes tend to look shifty even if they aren’t, which can sometimes help to pace a story as well, particularly the final one about a police officer and his new recruit, who’s listening to far too many rumors.

This isn’t going to be a knock-out up there with the best of Ono’s works, but nor is it just a collection of throwaways. It’s a Natsume Ono book, and if you don’t know what you’re getting by now it may not be for you. For those who do, it’s more of the same. (furtive glance to the side, frowns) And that’s enough.

(This review was based on a copy provided by the publisher.)

A Devil And Her Love Song, Vol. 6

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By Miyoshi Tomori. Released in Japan by Shueisha, serialized in the magazine Margaret. Released in North America by Viz.

This manga has been on my Bookshelf Briefs stack for the past few volumes, but it completely steps up its game here, so I feel I should do the same. We were in danger of hitting a rut and resolving things too early, with Maria’s latest antagonist, Anna, proving to be another in a series of foes that Maria and her harem… um, friends can win over with honest feelings and stubborn refusal to give up. But in this volume, we see that Anna is made of far sterner antagonist stuff, and steps up her game in a way that tries to both destroy Maria’s life *and* win the affection of Shin.

I’m quite impressed with the author, who has made Anna a villain who ruins the heroine’s life, through the usual shoujo tricks (oh dear, I threw your cellphone into the river by accident) and by things that only Anna could really utilize (telling Shin about Maria’s past). Both work quite well, but the latter really takes hold more than the former. And yet with all that said, it’s somewhat startling that I still really hope that she and Maria can work things out in the end. Maria, as we’ve noted before, *is* genuinely very hard to be around sometimes, and this would have been especially true given what happened between her and Anna. And clearly Anna is not doing this entirely out of pure hatred, given her reaction in that last scene.

Speaking of that last scene, it’s one of the best in the series to date, with Maria once again attempting to sacrifice herself in order to ‘protect’ someone else. Admittedly, this being Maria, it comes from a series of harsh truths and insults, but the heart behind it is there. And Anna can see that heart, which just makes it worse. Her final comment ‘You’re terrible at playing the devil’ is true – Maria is at her worst when she’s wallowing in her own self-hatred and trying to make everyone else see the same things she does.

And then there’s the revelation about Maria’s past that Anna shows Shin. While I’m not sure I buy the whole ‘it’s all Maria’s fault’ that was tossed in, I’m inclined to think the basic facts are true. I like that it took a lot for Shin to buy into this – actual newspaper clippings. Shin is not your typical guy who will believe anything a pretty face tells him. That said, this does affect Shin, but not in the way Anna expects – he’s now hell bent on helping Maria get over the trauma that this has left on her, and his discomfort around her stems from this. And I can see why he’s reacting this way – I mean seriously, how much more tragic can we possibly make Maria’s life?

All this plus we see Yusuke finally making his own move, even if he has to continue to couch it in ‘just kidding’ terms (which is going to come back to kick him in the ass one of these days). I think the audience now knows which pairing we’ll end up with by the end, but there’s 7 volumes still to go, so I’m fine with Yusuke showing he wants to be more than just a romantic runner-up – especially since he doesn’t have the knowledge Shin or Anna do. And by the way, the teacher from hell? Still there, still horrible. HE MUST GO. But the rest of the volume? Awesome.

Toriko, Vol. 13

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By Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro. Released in Japan by Shueisha, serialization ongoing in the magazine Weekly Shonen Jump. Released in North America by Viz.

Again, it’s been a long time since I reviewed Toriko on the main blog as opposed to a Bookshelf Brief. Jump series in general tend to lend themselves well to a paragraph rather than four or five paragraphs, especially when the volume in question is ‘they fight for 10 chapters’. Luckily, there’s a lot less fighting and a lot more character development here, although we do get the daily required amount of huge fictional animals, death-inducing climates, and large muscled men beating things up, all things Toriko requires for its daily nutritional value.

It seems appropriate that the Ozone Grass, the astonishing vegetable Toriko and Komatsu had spent most of last volume climbing to, turns out to be a pointer to both of the major themes of this episode. First off, it’s something that requires two people to work together to eat it properly, showing off the friendship part of Shonen Jump’s traditional motto. Toriko and Komatsu have been close since Volume 1, but there’s always been a bit of a tagalong ‘normal guy’ aspect to Komatsu, with Toriko going off on some dangerous quests on his own when he didn’t think Komatsu up to the challenge. These scenes really show off how important Komatsu has become in Toriko’s life, and that he really is perfect as Toriko’s partner. (I’d talk about the BL subtext, but I’ve mentioned that in prior reviews.)

And then, amazingly, after one of the more heartwarming scenes in the entire series, Toriko promptly misses the entire point and goes off to Gourmet World on his own, something so amazingly stupid you want to smack your head. In general, we haven’t really seen Toriko’s youth and inexperience all that often in the series to date, and indeed I sometimes forget that he’s only about 25 years old or so. But then, Toriko is always after the big experience, and notably when Sunny finds out what he’s about to do he doesn’t say anything, knowing that Toriko is the sort who is only likely to learn through bitter experience.

And bitter experience is exactly what he gets, as Gourmet World turns out to be a hellish environment straight out of nightmares. The sheer scale of all these dangers when compared with Toriko (who, as has been noted, is pretty huge) boggles the mind, and you have to wonder how he’ll get out of there. The answer is ‘saved by a stronger character’, of course, but only in order to drive home the two important morals of this volume. 1) Toriko is not ready for Gourmet World yet, and 2) Toriko, needs a partner, REPEATED FOR ADDED EMPHASIS. Luckily, this time around he seems to get the point, even if this means we are treated to a sobbing Komatsu spicing up Toriko’s food with something he really doesn’t want.

Unfortunately, Komatsu’s cooking knife is broken, and they head off to get a new one from the amazing knife master Melk. Who looks… suspiciously bishie for a character described as scar-covered and a loner. I sense a surprise coming next volume. In the meantime, this volume gave Toriko some much-needed humility, and saw him finally form what will hopefully be an equal partnership with Komatsu. All this, plus lots of weird animals getting beaten up. What’s not to love?

JManga the Week of 12/13

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SEAN: I will admit that next week’s crop of JManga offerings don’t give me as much to chatter about. No new series, but a lot of new volumes of series that I am either not reading or woefully behind on. Not to mention Pride and Crazy for You 4 got bumped back a week in a Diamond-esque fashion.

MJ: *snif*

MICHELLE: I also despondent.

SEAN: Recorder and Randsell is a series that I’ve no doubt is cute and heartwarming, but I find almost impossible to get past its incredibly twee premise, with a high school girl who has the body of a small child and her brother, a child with the body of a high schooler. It’s a 4-koma, so no doubt moe gags abound. It’s from Takeshobo.

Also from Takeshobo, we have Vol. 5 of PoyoPoyo’s Observation Diary, the awkwardly titled series about a spherical cat and his family. It has cornered the spherical cat market, I tell you!

MICHELLE: I read the first volume of this and had a mixed reaction. There was enough about it that I liked to compel me to continue, but I must admit that I haven’t yet done so.

SEAN: My Darling Kitten Hair is a BL manga from Libre Shuppan, and I see it described as ‘quirky’. Points off for the popsicle-sucking cover, though they do at least keep it cute and tasteful.

MJ: Okay, I have almost nothing else to say this week except that My Darling Kitten Hair was one of my favorite BL manga of the year AND I AM SO HAPPY. So happy.

Okay, I’m done now.

MICHELLE: The very first thing I thought when I saw this on the list was, “Ooh, MJwill be happy.”

SEAN: Peacemaker Kurogane 4 is out far too soon after Vol. 3 for me to have anything to say.

I admit I haven’t had time to read Madame Joker, but given I’ve liked all the other series that Futabasha has released on JManga from the josei magazine Jour, I’m sure I’ll enjoy this as well. Vol. 3 hits the site.

Lastly, Tactics heads further into double digits with Vol. 11. Did anyone read the Tokyopop version of this?

MICHELLE: Not me.

MJ: Oh, actually I did. I only got a few volumes in, though, before I simply lost interest. Perhaps I should give it another chance? It has lots of pretty costuming.

The Rose of Versailles Debuts On Viki Today!

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So normally I don’t talk about anime much, but am making an exception for this. Everyone should watch it. Yes, even you. Here’s the initial press release that came out before NYCC.

Viki Signs Exclusive Deal to Stream Revolutionary Anime Series The Rose of Versailles for the First Time in North America

Ground-Breaking Title by TMS Entertainment LTD to Premiere at New York Comic Con 2012, Streamed on Viki.com Starting December

Viki, Inc., the global TV site powered by avid fans, today announced an exclusive deal with Right Stuf, Inc. to stream The Rose of Versailles, a legendary anime title produced over 30 years ago by TMS Entertainment LTD, based on the manga comic created by Riyoko Ikeda, one of the most well-known manga artists in the world, partly for her progressive characters. A sneak peek of the first episode, subtitled in English, will premiere at the New York Comic Con on October 13 with Anime News Network and anime expert and Tufts University Professor Susan Napier.

This is the first time TMS Entertainment LTD has allowed the series to be released outside of Japan, Asia and Europe and made available for English-speaking audiences in the U.S. and Canada. The 40-episode series will begin streaming on Viki in December with English subtitles. Viki launched its anime channel in March and now has over 100 anime titles from Japan’s largest licensors.

“Many companies have tried unsuccessfully for years to bring The Rose of Versailles to North America,” said Razmig Hovaghimian, Viki CEO and Co-Founder. “We’re honored TMS has entrusted Right Stuf and Viki to bring a true Japanese treasure to our fans.”

The screening will be hosted by Professor Napier, a specialist in modern anime literature and Professor of the Japanese Program at Tufts University. She is author of the groundbreaking book “Anime from Akira to Howl’s Moving Castle,” which analyzes sexuality, transgender protagonists, and femininity and masculinity in manga and anime characters.

“When Rose of Versailles burst on the scene in 1972, it was a revolutionary work in many ways,” said Professor Napier. “First of all, it really WAS a work about revolution — the French Revolution of 1789, to be exact — and its historical setting, psychological complexity and adult themes all signaled a new direction in the genre of manga for young girls, known as ‘shojo manga.’”

Even more “revolutionary,” however, was the introduction of a major cross-dressing character, the young woman named Oscar, who befriends and guides the hapless Marie Antoinette as the world churns around her. While much of “Versailles” is historically accurate, Oscar is Ikeda’s own invention, a passionate young woman who dresses and often behaves like a man. Oscar quickly became the series’ most popular protagonist and her gender-bending role not only gave young female readers a new approach to gender and sexuality but also paved the way for the many other gender-ambiguous characters who continue to populate the world of anime today.

“I’m excited that we can work with an innovator like Viki for the online premiere of our production of The Rose of Versailles,” said Shawne Kleckner, President and CEO, Right Stuf, Inc. “Viki’s audience is a great fit for this property, and we look forward to the upcoming broadcast.”

About Viki
Viki is a global TV site with over 12 million monthly viewers who come to watch their favorite TV shows, movies and other premium content, translated into more than 150 languages by a community of avid fans. With over 1 billion videos viewed and nearly 250 million words translated, Viki uniquely brings global prime-time entertainment to new audiences and unlocks new markets and revenue opportunities for content owners. In 2011, Viki announced $20M in Series B funding from strategic investors include BBC Worldwide and SK Planet, a subsidiary of SK Telecom; as well as from existing investors Greylock Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Charles River Ventures and Neoteny Labs, among others.

ABOUT RIGHT STUF, INC.
Currently celebrating its 25th year in business, Right Stuf, Inc. was one of the first players in the U.S. Japanese Animation (“anime”) industry, as both an anime producer/distributor and a retailer. Right Stuf works to promote knowledge of its own products, as well as the anime and manga industry, in general, through its online storefront at RightStuf.com and a variety of media including podcasts and special publications. Its video and print publishing division includes the Nozomi Entertainment, Lucky Penny, and 5 Points Pictures studio-labels. Right Stuf plans to begin releasing The Rose of Versailles on DVD in Spring 2013.

ABOUT TMS ENTERTAINMENT, LTD.
TMS Entertainment, Ltd. (better known as TMS), one of the world’s largest and most distinguished animation studios, has rapidly won recognition from the international filmmaking community for its highly acclaimed animation, pioneering techniques and proud commitment to quality. With its headquarters situated in Tokyo under the supervision of the world’s dedicated team of top development, production and design executives, TMS’s growing reputation is reflected by the versatility, artistry and originality of the remarkable volume of programs the company has produced for the international markets worldwide. Established in the year 1964, TMS has produced more than 100 features, and over 100 TV programming series, in total of 8,000 half hours, for global distribution. TMS also proceeds restoration projects of the titles to keep its highest quality for next generation. TMS is proud to uphold our tradition of presenting to you unforgettable images from the finest animation produced anywhere in the world. TMS’s programs have attained the worldwide recognition and we continue to strive for excellence and lead the animation world throughout the century.

Manga the Week of 12/12

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SEAN: After the hugeness of this week’s list, next week is looking a lot milder. Though as always, Midtown, Diamond, and bookstores don’t seem to match at all. (My shop got most of the Viz stuff, but none of the Yen releases, which they say are coming out 12/12.) This list is mostly Midtown, with two Viz titles most stores will get 12/12, and one Yen title with the same circumstances. (Midtown gets Yen’s hardcovers later than most?)

Yes, yes, I will stop being a nerd and get on with the list. Kodansha brings us a few new titles. Attack on Titan 3 looks to answer what’s going on with that Ally Titan and why Eren is back, but I suspect I still won’t be able to tell half the soldiers apart from the other half. Come on, at least give them a distinctive scar or something!

MJ: Ack! I’m a whole volume behind in Attack on Titan, and that’s about to grow into two volumes. I need to catch up!

SEAN: Battle Angel Alita: Last Order returns after a very long hiatus and with a new publisher. Kodansha Comics picks up the reins after the author switched Japanese publishers in what was, for Japan, a very loud parting of the ways. Vol. 16 picks up where Viz left off, but for those who need to start from the beginning, omnibuses are coming soon. (Of Last Order, that is. The original is still out of print and likely to remain so.)

The Wallflower is up to Volume 29, and at times I feel I’m the only one still reading it, mainly as I don’t give a rat’s ass when Sunako and Kyohei admit their feelings, I just want to see them kicking people who annoy them in the face. I should get more of that here.

MICHELLE: Three series so far that I haven’t read! I did own the first half dozen volumes of The Wallflower for a time, but I must’ve gotten wind of its terminal lack of resolution, because I quit buying it and eventually gave away the ones I did have.

SEAN: I have no earthly idea what Captain Commando is. It’s by Japanese artists, apparently, but I can’t find out who originally published it. Given Udon is putting it out, is it a Capcom thing, maybe? Anyway, this is Volume 2.

MJ: I suspect this isn’t even remotely for me, yet I feel compelled to read something called “Captain Commando.” I mean. Yeah.

SEAN: Viz somehow missed sending Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan 12 to shops this week, but it’ll be there next week. I like Nura, which always entertains me without wowing me. It’s a meat-and-potatoes Jump series, much like Psyren.

MICHELLE: I am way, way behind on Nura, but I don’t dislike it or anything. I guess it’s easy to put on the backburner.

MJ: I have a difficult time getting interested in titles like this (I guess I never did like meat and potatoes). Should I try anyway?

SEAN: Depends, do you enjoy generic Jump? Lots of multi-volume fights, a few love triangles, people getting stronger through training and the power of friendship…

Everyone except Midtown will also be getting the 7th volume of Itsuwaribito. I admit I never really followed this series, about a boy trying to redeem the world with his lies. But it’s one of Viz’s few remaining Shonen Sunday series, and I cherish each of those like my own kin. So go get it.

MJ: “I cherish each of those like my own kin.” I have nothing profound to say about Itsuwaribito, I just liked that sentiment. Actually makes me want to read every Shonen Sunday series I can find.

SEAN: Speaking of which, it’s the final volume of Kekkaishi! This is definitely on my list of series to catch up with, and it makes me sad that it’s ending here. But I hear the ending is quite satisfying, so definitely grab grab grab this.

MICHELLE: I have been carefully hoarding Kekkaishi for years and am looking forward to indulging in a marathon. Possibly over Christmas break!

MJ: I have never delved into this series, but I really do want to. Maybe I’ll catch up digitally!

SEAN: Lastly, for some reason not featured with the giant pile of Yen last week, Kaoru Mori’s collection of short stories Anything and Something is due out as well. There’s apparently some commentary and designs for Emma and A Bride’s Story interspersed throughout. I’m not as wild about Mori as some other bloggers I know, but this is still definitely a book to have.

MICHELLE: I haven’t read as much Mori as I should have, but this one looks pretty quirky and fun.

MJ: I’d really, really like to see this, so I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.

SEAN: Sticking your thumb into any of these hoping for a plum?

MICHELLE: *groan*

The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, Vol. 13

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By Eiji Otsuka and Housui Yamazaki. Released in Japan as “Kurosagi Shitai Takuhaibin” by Kadokawa Shoten, serialization ongoing in the magazine Young Ace. Released in North America by Dark Horse.

I am pleased to report that this volume of Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service has exactly what its readers look for each time around. There’s lots of grotesque set pieces which allow the artist to display a flair for horrible imagery. There’s wry and witty commentary between smart people. There’s genuine mystery, with our heroes being clever, and a nice use of synaesthesia as a plot point. And there’s copious endnotes from editor Carl Horn, explaining things like Karatsu’s Space Battleship Yamato reference and who Terry and Dory Funk are.

That said, there is one other development that not only surprised me but irritated me a bit. Not because of what the revelation was – yes, it sinks one of my ships, but given that this isn’t a harem manga I can deal – but because of its offhand nature. I am reminded of an earlier volume, when we saw a storyline end with Karatsu set on fire and an intense cliffhanger. Come the next chapter… and we’ve moved on, with nothing ever getting resolved. Here we see Sasaki and Karatsu get back from the Okinawa trip mentioned in the last volume, and for the most part it’s the same thing, except for that revelation. Which is laid out more to explain the deus ex machina of the story rather than for any dramatic tension. I do hope we eventually come back to it.

With all that said, it is an intriguing revelation, and also leads to some misdirection and amusement when we see Sasaki being sick and think it may be due to other reasons. Sadly, nothing quite so pleasant – it’s just the joys of being a woman. (KCDS is as blunt and matter-of-fact when dealing with periods as it is when dealing with corpses.) Sasaki also gets more to do than usual here, as she’s the focus of the 2nd case in the book, involving a jury trail where a man has already admitted his guilt. The jury system is still fairly new in Japan, and Carl’s notes help to lay out how it’s different from the U.S. The use of auras and synaesthesia manage to give it both a fantasy and realistic feeling, and the murder victims are both quite sympathetic.

Lastly, there were clearly not enough shots of nude women in peril in the series recently, so the final story more than makes up for that, combining a look at land redevelopment and harvest rituals with a good old fashioned psycho who likes to chop up young women. Luckily, the ‘karmic justice’ aspect of this series also makes a reappearance to give the reader someone to root for. Overall, this is a good but not great volume of our favorite cynical horror manga, offering some solid imagery and a few interesting revelations, even if the authors may not have figured out what to do with these revelations as yet. The series is still ongoing in Japan, so we may have a ways to go. Especially as I’m not sure when Vol. 14 is scheduled here. Fight on, Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service!

Bookshelf Briefs 12/3/12

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This week, Sean and Michelle look at recent releases from Kodansha Comics, Yen Press, VIZ Media, and Vertical, Inc.

Aron’s Absurd Armada, Vol. 1 | By MiSun Kim | Yen Press – So, the plot: stupid nobleman coerces his bodyguard to play pirates with him and they gradually acquire a misfit crew. I’m pretty hard to please where comedies are concerned, but Aron’s Absurd Armada delivers the right amount of the promised absurdity to appeal to me. The fact that I started snickering on the character introductions page was a good sign, and there were several bits thereafter that amused me. I like the fact that, though primarily composed in a 4-panel format, there’s actually a sequential story (however silly) being told, so it doesn’t feel like merely a series of jokes. It all flows quite well, actually. Sure, some parts are less funny than others—I particularly fail to find humor in the crew of marines who’re suffering through a similarly incompetent leader—but it’s quite fun on the whole, and I’m looking forward to volume two. – Michelle Smith

GTO: 14 Days in Shonan, Vol. 6 | By Toru Fujisawa | Vertical, Inc. – Again, the best thing about this series is how much of an inspiration Onizuka is. His actual actions may not help much – his plan to get Keiichi in good with his girlfriend’s parents is typical Onizuka, i.e. wildly over the top and idiotic – but his never say die determination lets people he comes into contact with find their own inner strengths. This can sometimes even surprise him – when Ayame goes after the yakuza at the start of this volume, he’s the one that’s nervous. But towards the end we find more and more of the White Swan is in his corner. Of course, they’re dealing with the messed-up twins – well, messed-up twin, as it turns out that they’re not two of a kind. So the cast of this series may not be enough – we have to bring in some ringers from GTO proper. Absolutely cannot wait for Vol. 7! -Sean Gaffney

Miles Edgeworth: Ace Attorney Investigations, Vol. 3 | By Kenji Kuroda and Kazuo Maekawa | Kodansha Comics – It would appear I was not the only one annoyed at the complete lack of any Ace Attorney cast other than Miles and Gumshoe. Ema Skye makes an appearance here, coming home from the U.S. for the holiday break. (My guess is she’s about 19-20 here, putting these cases in the gap between Phoenix being framed and the Apollo Justice games – which helps explain the lack of other regulars.) The writers may have played the DS game starring her before they wrote this volume, in fact – the 2nd case has some similarities to her debut. As seems to be a habit with these releases, the first case in the volume is merely OK, but the 2nd is more gripping. Everything is still light as air, but for Ace Attorney fans, this volume is another win.-Sean Gaffney

Natsume’s Book of Friends, Vol. 13 | By Yuki Midorikawa | VIZ Media – “I’ll be waiting here at noon tomorrow. If you’re not here, I’ll come by the house.” That sounds innocent enough, doesn’t it? But it’s the threat implied—that exorcist Matoba will tell the relatives Natsume’s living with all about his involvement in the dangerous supernatural world if he doesn’t cooperate—that forces Natsume to attend a meeting of exorcists with Matoba in order to root out the person who’s been attacking them. The ensuing chapters are good though fairly straightforward. I was most captivated by the pair of side stories depicting Natsume as seen through the eyes of a couple of classmates. Midorikawa skillfully creates full personalities for these guys while offering us something new about our protagonist. It’s her skill and the overall warmth and loveliness of the series that left me feeling like this volume was over way too soon. – Michelle Smith

Psyren, Vol. 7 | By Toshiaki Iwashiro | VIZ Media – About 2/3 of the way through this series, the main characters are pulled back into the Psyren World, to their great frustration. I share this frustration, as I find the constant fights and posturing in the apocalyptic ruins to be far less interesting than the attempts to change the future in the present. Indeed, the future is already changed – we see the Elmore Wood kids get killed off again on the DVD, but in a different way than they did at first. I’m simply more invested in the present-day plots, and the villains being stock caricatures is not helping at all. I will admit to being amused by the solution to ‘I am being a mook because my sister is in a coma’ – fix the coma, problem solved. But if the majority of the next volume takes place in Psyren World, I’m not really looking forward to it unless something revelatory happens. (coughforeshadowingcough) -Sean Gaffney

Soulless: The Manga, Vol. 2 | By Gail Carriger and Rem | Yen Press – The second volume of Soulless finds the supernatural denizens of London sporadically “afflicted with normality.” Getting to the bottom of the matter involves taking a dirigible ride to Scotland, with various attempts on Alexia’s life along the way and some new, though possibly untrustworthy, acquaintances along for the journey. In some ways, this is a stronger volume than the first, with a mystery plot that’s better integrated into the characters’ storyline, though I do miss the banter between Alexia and Conall from their courtship days and the resolution of the mystery is decidedly lame. The introduction of Madame Lefoux, however, is the real highlight. A French inventor who dresses like a gent (complete with top hat), Lefoux’s a scene-stealer whose flirtatious attentions provoke a definite response in Alexia. I hope we’ll be seeing more of her (and, of course, more Soulless)! – Michelle Smith

Pick of the Week: Chocolat, Toriko, Natsume, Demon Love Spell

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MJ: There is an avalanche of new manga flooding Midtown Comics this week, including some regular favorites of mine like Pandora Hearts, Bakuman, and Natsume’s Book of Friends, but I only have eyes for one title, and that’s volume 8 of Chocolat, a girls’ manhwa series from Yen Press that has been on hiatus since 2008. This omnibus includes the series’ final three volumes, and I can’t wait to read it! Well, I admit I probably have to go back and read the rest of the series again first (it has been a while), but that doesn’t dampen my excitement in the slightest. Chocolat marathon, anyone?

SEAN: Midtown may be getting a pile, but my store is only getting a tiny amount, for some likely Diamond-related reason. And I already talked about Higurashi a couple of days ago. So for my pick, I’ll go with the 13th volume of Toriko, another Shonen Jump success story about food and manliness. After a lull where it fell into “3 volumes of fight,” Toriko has picked right back up again, and it always seems to find the right balance between fighting and food. And the food is getting more and more gloriously weird, with every menu item almost becoming a new character that has to be defeated. Like One Piece, which it resembles a bit, Toriko gives off an old-school Jump feeling of boys with their toys. And the toys are MEAT. (P.S. – Also get the 2nd Pogo volume from Fantagraphics, as Pogo is awesome. Sincerely, Sean.)

MICHELLE: I’d be up for that Chocolat marathon, but I’m going to award my pick to volume 13 of Natsume’s Book of Friends. Though episodic stories aren’t generally my preference, Natsume is consistently excellent and maintains a certain… ethereal air? I’m not sure how to describe it. It’s not quite gentle, it’s not quite wistful… But it’s entirely wonderful. If you haven’t checked this series out yet, you really should!

ANNA: My Pick of the week is the new Mayu Shinjo title, Demon Love Spell. This quite funny send-up of paranormal romance manga features a chibified incubus and a bumbling yet sassy shrine maiden. It should appeal to fans of Ai Ore, and for people who dropped Ai Ore due to some of the squicky gender issues in the first volume, I think that the humor in this manga is much easier to relate to.

Readers, what looks good to you this week?

JManga the Week of 12/6

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SEAN: After a somewhat desolate week this week (with one huge treat, of course), next week’s JManga schedule looks a lot more promising.

JManga and Shueisha are on the fast track with their releases of Crazy for You and Pride! This will take Crazy for You over the halfway mark. Both recommended (why is it so hard to stay caught up, though?)

MICHELLE: I am having the same problem with staying caught up, but am supremely delighted that releases are coming so quickly with these series! I’m not sure why, but it kind of gives me hope that once these two are finished, more Shueisha shoujo will be on its way. This is the place where I predictably suggest/beg for Cat Street.

ANNA: I like plenty of JManga titles, but these are the ones I am most enthusiastic about currently. I hope that these signal a trend of more shojo for JManga, and I would also love to see them get Cat Street too.

MJ: I am thrilled by the pace they’re keeping with these, because I am completely hooked on both!

SEAN: We have the final volume of Comic High’s Otaku-Type Delusion Girl, which Media Blasters released part of ages ago as Fujoshi Rumi. Given that it’s about a bunch of BL fangirls, but runs in Comic High!, I can guess the audience reaction over here to be somewhat mixed? Anyone try it?

MICHELLE: I never have, but I have a friend (female) who likes it.

SEAN: There’s also a new Neko Ramen, rescued from Tokyopop and available once more for our cat-loving pleasure.

MICHELLE: Yay! Though I’ll really be rejoicing when they get to volume five, the first one not to be released by TOKYOPOP.

SEAN: The big release of the week, for the 2nd week in a row, is by Takako Shimura. I think Ohta Shuppan, which has released 3 titles in the last month or so to JManga, has started to realize that they can really promote their brand here. The short stories collected in The Devil Is So Cute ran in various magazines, including Comic High (Futabasha), Comic Blade Zebel (Mag Garden), and Young King OURS (Shonen Gahosha). But really, the best thing I can say is IT’S MORE SHIMURA! READ IT!

MICHELLE: Yes, I am really looking forward to this one!

MJ: Count me in!

SEAN: Another Futabasha series wraps up, as we get the last two volumes of The Perfect Girlfriend, one of the first of their Web Comic High! online series. I read part of the first volume, and while it didn’t grab me, it wasn’t all that awful. I can see it appealing to the anime-loving crowd.

Lastly, a second Tokyopop rescue, The Good Witch of the West is a shoujo fantasy adventure series I’ve been meaning to catch up on (especially after reading Erica’s recent review. This side-story volume seems to take place after the main story.

MICHELLE: It’s one that’s been on my radar for some time—mostly due to my local library having it in their collection—but I’ve never yet managed to actually read it. One of these days.

ANNA: I read the first four volumes or so, and this is a solid fantasy series, although I wasn’t compelled to collect all the print volumes. More Tokyopop rescues would be good! I only hope that one day more of my beloved Demon Sacred gets translated.

MICHELLE: Oh yes, me too!

MJ: I would also really like to see Demon Sacred. But I’m pleased to see things like this on the list. I missed a lot of Tokyopop titles the first time around.

SEAN: Lots of varied stuff. I may have to load up on points again.

License Request: Additional Higurashi Manga

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Higurashi When They Cry is, let’s face it, a franchise by now. And as such, it’s not the sort of series that was going to stop merely because the story ended. Heck, even the author of the original visual novels released an extra one with several stories after Matsuribayashi-hen was completed. The anime did two series of OAVs. Indeed, Yen Press has already released an extra side-story as an omnibus volume. So even though they still have over a year of Higurashi still to release, I thought I’d take a look at what’s out in Japan and see what, in my ideal Higurashi world, I would want licensed.

First, I’ll cull off things that can be skipped or are expendable. There are a giant PILE of Higurashi anthology books by various artists, with the vague tacit approval of 7th Expansion. Some are terrifying, some are hilarious, but all are basically one step removed from the ‘official product’. They’d be nice, but not necessary. The same goes for the Higurashi 4-koma volumes, which go under the title All You Need Is Love. There is a one-volume manga starring Shion, who is investigating a murder at the private school we see her attend at the very start of Eye-Opening; it got cancelled/cut short by the publisher, but is only one volume, so might be looked at. There’s also a one-volume manga that revolves around mahjong that was also cut short; due to the subject matter, it won’t be looked at.

So that basically leaves us with four books. All are done in one, though one may be continuing, I’m not sure. Publishers like single-volume books.

1) Dice-Killing Chapter. This is probably the closest the series will get to a genuine, actual post-series sequel. And, unlike most of the post-series stuff that’s come out, it’s mainly serious. The premise has Rika, overdosing on having escaped her unhappy fate and free of the endless June, not looking where she’s going and getting hit by a truck. Aheh. She wakes up in a different Hinamizawa, where no one was ever killed, the dam project is going through, and everyone’s happy and content. Well, everyone except Rika. This was taken from one of the post-series VNs, and I find a lot of its basic themes very disquieting. But then, that’s what makes a Higurashi series.

2) Daybreak Chapter. For all that I call Higurashi a game, it’s actually a series of Visual Novels. You don’t do anything but hit enter a lot. So naturally, one of the first things fans did was to make the series into a third-person shooter. This was a big success, and they even got Ryukishi07 to do the scenario, which involved a magatama that forced people into love confessions. This was then adapted into several manga. I prefer Mion with Keiichi, and there is a version of that which Kadokawa put out, but it’s not as good. This is the best of the lot, and is about as Keiichi/Rena shippy as you can get.

3) Heart-Healing Chapter. This was one of the titles that Kadokawa Shoten taunted us with by sticking the synopsis up on JManga’s site, before we realized they had no plans to actually release any of these. As such, it’s a good fit with Yen. Note it is the only non-Square Enix title on the list – it ran in Kadokawa’s Comp Ace. It’s the most heartwarming of these choices, dealing expressly with Rika’s feeling after the end of the series about having to finally move on and think about life. I like heartwarming fluff a lot.

4) Hinamizawa Bus Stop. Sorry for the tinier image, but this one only had its cover image released a few days ago -it’s not out in Japan yet! The latest of the Higurashi tie-ins, this one is supposedly based off the original scenario that Ryukishi07 had in mind before he moved away from it to make Higurashi proper. It stars a 17-year-old Rika, with her goofy friend Mion, so definitely falls into the ‘alternate universe’ category – and not in the usual Higurashi way. But the plot still revolves around that pesky dam, there’s still the threat of Oyashiro-sama, and there’s still scary faces galore. I’m not sure if this is complete as of this volume or still ongoing – guess we’ll have to wait and find out.

As you can see, it’s a Higurashi world out there. Any of these four volumes coming out over here would make me very happy indeed.

Manga the Week of 12/5

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SEAN: What we have feared for so long has finally come upon us. Viz’s first week has combined with Yen’s monthly shipments. But that’s OK. We can get through this if we just stay together. (I can’t actually confirm Yen’s stuff via Diamond just yet, but it’s definitely coming into Midtown.) So let’s get going.

First, a brief stop off with Dark Horse, where the Shinji Ikari Raising Project has reached Vol. 12. I don’t follow most of the Evangelion AUs, but this is supposed to be one of the fluffier ones. Given that, if you like Evangelion but hate that everyone keeps getting killed (sorry to spoil that 17-year-old anime for you), this may be a winner!

MICHELLE: I’m pretty surprised that series has gotten up to twelve volumes without me noticing! I guess that shows how far under my radar it is.

SEAN: And now (oh dear) for Viz. Let’s start off with Arata the Legend 12, Yuu Watase’s stab at shonen that hasn’t quite won as many readers as Fushigi Yuugi, but has quite a cult following.

ANNA: I’ve been following this, but slowly. I still haven’t quite forgiven Arata for not being Fushigi Yuugi, but Watase is such a pro I find myself enjoying this shonen fantasy series. I have a couple volumes of Arata on my “to read” stack.

MICHELLE: I really like Arata!

SEAN: Bakuman finished in Japan, so there’s no reason not to have the American release GO GO GO to catch up. Here’s Vol. 17.

Black Bird has reached 15 volumes, and its cover still has that same look, thankfully with less actual blood than the last time I read it. But hey, Shojo Beat readers adore it.

ANNA: I read the first couple volumes and then later volumes somewhat sporadically, but this is one of those shojo series that I just can’t seem to connect with.

MICHELLE: Yeah, I gave up long ago.

MJ: I’ve hated this series for so long, my relationship with it seems somehow… intimate. And isn’t that just sad?

SEAN: Two more Bleach volumes, still strangely Aizen-less. Poor Ichigo’s lost his powers! Who can help? Why Rukia can… unless she’s distracted by adorable plush toys. But hey, what are the chances of that happening?

D.Gray-Man 23 tells us about a group of demons called Noah. Right! What’s a Gray-man? And why is it D? Did they have three Gray-men before it? (Look, I’ve gotten into the bad habit of trying to be funny with these. Bear with it, it’ll be over soon.)

Dawn of the Arcana 7 is out, another in a series of shoujo manga from Viz I’ve gotten behind on, so I’ll let my colleagues try to be funny here.

ANNA: I didn’t realize I’d gotten so far behind on this series either! This fantasy series has a slow but rewarding pace, and a refreshing heroine. I see myself stocking up on Dawn of the Arcana for some quality vacation reading next month.

MICHELLE: I’m behind too, but somewhat on purpose so I can have a small stack to marathon next time I feel like catching up on it. (Sorry, can’t think of anything funny!)

SEAN: Oh boy, another Mayu Shinjo series! I am feeling equal parts eagerness and trepidation, given her past record. Demon Love Spell seems to be made up of shrine maiden, sexy demon, lots of seduction. I suspect I will both enjoy and be repelled by it.

ANNA: I am very much looking forward to this series. After not being quite sure what to make of Ai Ore, I have come to the conclusion that it is entirely satirical, and the second series settles down a bit into being a shojo comedy. Still, I enjoy Mayu Shinjo series when she brings the crack, as found in all the bondage, forced drug addiction, bondage, kidnapping and sex in unusual places that she treated readers to in Sensual Phrase. If this series is more like Sensual Phrase than Ai Ore, I can see myself enjoying this very much.

MICHELLE: I was actually reading the back cover blurb of Demon Love Spell to a friend on the phone last night, and snickering unkindly that the wholly original name for the shrine maiden is…. Miko. While I’d like to believe Ai Ore is satire, I still pretty much hated volume seven, so that doesn’t leave me too eager for this new series, though I will still probably check it out.

MJ: I don’t know what to think of this. I really dislike Ai Ore!, but I’ve never read Sensual Phrase, so I suppose there’s still hope?

SEAN: Devil and Her Love Song 6 is a Shojo Beat series that I am keeping up with, and it hasn’t lost its spark yet. Here’s hoping we get a bit less angst and a bit more bite this time, though.

ANNA: I enjoy this series every time I pick up a volume, but it isn’t the type of series that I see myself rereading very much in the future. I’m glad though that Shojo Beat is releasing such a good variety of manga under their imprint currently.

SEAN: The Earl and The Fairy light novel series is 29 volumes and counting, but its manga equivalent finishes here with Vol. 4. Given I think that Vol. 2 was a perfectly serviceable ending, I’m not sure what to think. But hey, I liked 2 better than 1, maybe I’ll like 4 better than 3.

Natsume’s Book of Friends has rapidly become one of my can’t miss titles, and seeing it’s hit Vol. 13 fills me with happiness. (And yes, there won’t be enough Taki in it. There’s never enough of my OT3. Ah well.)

MICHELLE: I too am rejoicing over volume 13 of Natsume.

MJ: Likewise!

SEAN: I can’t remember the last time Viz wasn’t putting out a Tanemura series, and this is definitely not one of those times. Vol. 9 of Sakura Hime is due out next week.

Slam Dunk has reached a quarter century of volumes! I think this means it only has a few more to go, in fact. Perhaps when it finishes we can see Kuroko no Basket?

ANNA: SLAM DUNK RULES! I have no other comment than that.

MICHELLE: I can get behind Anna’s sentiments 110%! But yes, after this one there are only six volumes left. And I’d love to see Kuroko no Basket released here. Now that Cross Game has finished, are there any other sports manga coming out here now? I can’t think of any off the top of my head…

SEAN: There’s Cross Manage, which runs in Shonen Jump Alpha.

Toriko 13 has our heroes realizing that it’s time to GET STRONGER! Oh dear, a training arc? Not quite. Getting stronger in Toriko means BETTER KNIVES. Food preparation is still serious business.

As for Vol. 2 of Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal, when did this series start to sound like it was written in On Beyond Zebra? Did I miss Yu-Gi-Oh Yuzz?

Now then, Yen. I bet you thought “What would it be like if I had even more Alice in the Country of Hearts spinoffs? Can my heart even take another harem route?” Now’s your change to find out, as My Fanatic Rabbit is the March Hare route, sitting nicely next to your Cheshire Cat volumes.

ANNA: I’m taking a bit of a wait and see attitude towards the Alice In the Country of Hearts spinoffs. I did enjoy the original series very much, but I wasn’t a big fan of the first Alice in the Country of Clover: Cheshire Cat volume. I’m going to rely on the opinions of other reviewers before I contemplate picking this up.

MICHELLE: Cheshire Cat was actually loads better than Bloody Twins, even though it wasn’t great. Still, I am kind of fond of the March Hare, so I might like Fanatic Rabbit. We shall see!

SEAN: I first saw Blood Lad a while ago and remarked that it would no doubt be licensed as it had Vampires in it. And here I am, proven right again. The burden of being me can be overwhelming sometimes.

MICHELLE: Hee hee.

SEAN: Given I now share this list with my fellow Manga Bookshelf peeps, I can’t just skip over manwha like I used to. So, Chocolat Vol. 8. Anyone?

MICHELLE: Chocolat is a manhwa series by the creators of Very! Very! Sweet, originally licensed here by Ice Kunion. Yen took over with the fourth volume and and released through volume seven by the end of 2008. Then the series languished for four years, even though it wrapped up in Korea. But now we’re finally getting the ending! Though it’s labelled as volume eight, Yen’s site notes that it’s actually a 512-page omnibus containing the final three volumes of the series. I’m sure this is making a lot of people happy! I hope the final volume of Comic is next!

MJ: YES! YES! YES! I’ve have been anxiously waiting for this series to continue! I’ve really missed all of those Ice Kunion licenses, and Yen has nearly reached the end of them, without much hope for more of the same as far as I can see. I’m grateful for one more taste.

SEAN: Another in the series that I seem to like a lot more than most everyone else online (though it sells, unlike my usual obsessions), Higurashi When They Cry. Vol. 20 is the middle of the Massacre arc, containing Vols. 3-4 from Japan, and features everyone in the entire world trying to make child services see reason. Also, I finally get to stop pretending I don’t know who the real villain is, as they’re revealed here.

Maximum Ride: The Manga is still by James Patterson, even after 6 volumes.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya continues to be the dullest of the 3 Haruhi manga currently running, but it’s trying its best! Currently documenting the events of the 7th novel.

Why are so many series hitting Vol. 13 these days? Here’s Pandora Hearts.

MJ: Always happy to see more of this series. Yes, indeed.

SEAN: Madoka Magica’s manga may not quite have the impact of the anime it’s based on, but it still manages to shock. Vol. 3 is the final volume of the main series (be prepared for spinoffs and AUs).

The Raiders have finally found the Blood of Christ, but are stopped by Jeanne D’Arc. This description of Raiders Vol. 9 is almost enough to make me try to go back and pick up the rest.

MICHELLE: I’ve read most of Raiders, and while it often doesn’t make complete sense, there’s something about it that keeps me returning to see what’s going to happen next.

SEAN: Lastly, there’s the Collector’s Edition GN of Twilight, which everyone except Midtown seems to have had for a month now.

So, any stocking stuffers?

Thermae Romae, Vol. 1

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By Mari Yamazaki. Released in Japan in two separate volumes by Enterbrain, serialization ongoing in the magazine Comic Beam. Released in North America by Yen Press.

Sometimes, the companies putting out manga in the West surprise you. Let’s face it, most of what comes out these days is meant to be popular and sell well. That’s the way of business. And I like a lot of popular, bestselling manga as well. But in times like these, with companies struggling to stay afloat, it’s far more likely you’ll see the latest “My Little Sister Has A Light Novel Series With An Overly Long Title” series than something from Big Comic or Evening (or, yes, even IKKI, though Viz has made an excellent effort). That’s why it’s always fantastic to see exceptions like these, a series with a nice big deluxe hardcover (which, admittedly, is probably the best way to ensure it will break even), which is about a Roman architect who finds he can now time-travel between Ancient Rome and modern-day Japan to learn about baths.

Seriously, just read that description again. It’s hard to find something farther away from ninjas and vampires. And yet I found this entire volume fascinating. There’s a nice balance between the so-called hook of Lucius marveling at the wonders of modern architecture and design (and beating himself up about the inadequacies of his time, which at times seems to be the dominant aspect of his personality) and Lucius’ own soap-opera of a life that his new designs bring about. There’s no real danger of ‘will bringing modern innovations into the past change the future’ – this isn’t a science fiction story, and notably how he does this is never really explained – it could easily be hallucinatory dreams.

But it’s his life, and those of his fellow Romans, that makes this such a page=turner. Lucius is modest to the point of self-loathing, has quite a few marriage issues (which, to the author’s credit, are not magically solved once he becomes more successful) and a number of jealous comrades. He’s also becoming closer with Emperor Hadrian, who has him design a few new baths, which leads to several obvious rumors about his sexuality (Hadrian’s tastes were well-known, though there’s a long series of endnotes for those unaware of the finer aspects of Roman history).

The Roman plotline (which actually is fairly historically accurate, to the degree allowed by the plot’s designs) is fairly heavy throughout, even as Lucius’s career prospects skyrocket. It’s therefore a relief that there’s always a modern Japanese time travel story to break this up. Lucius tends to overreact much of the time, in the best comedic tradition, and his awe in the face of things like Strawberry Milk or washcloths is just plain funny. The Japanese people he meets seem to be almost preternaturally unsuspecting and accommodating of him (oh look, another crazy foreigner) and always willing to expound on how awesome their baths/hot springs/etc are. (There’s some nationalism here, I admit, but it’s woven well enough into the plot that it’s easy to accept).

Yen’s presentation, as I noted above, is deluxe. A hardcover with a plastic slipcase in order to cover the Japanese original, which features a Roman statue with naughty bits. (Fear not – take off the slipcase and the bits are all present and correct.) The paper is high-class, and there’s comments by the author after each chapter about her research, Roman times vs. today, and how much she likes to simply bathe. A love of the bathing ritual permeates this book – not just getting clean, but everything about it – and it’s to Yamazaki-san’s credit that it doesn’t overwhelm the actual plotline of Lucius’s rise to fame and growing intrigue. This volume is a bit pricey, but it’s definitely worth it. Ask for it for Christmas!

Bookshelf Briefs 11/26/12

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This week, Michelle, MJ, & Sean check out recent releases from JManga, Yen Press, SuBLime Manga, and VIZ Media.

Ai Ore!, Vol. 7 | By Mayu Shinjo | VIZ Media – To be honest, I’m not sure why I’m still reading Ai Ore!. It’s a lazily written, episodic type of shoujo comedy that I just can’t like, and Akira as a character is especially grating to me. In this volume, he gets jealous of Kaoru, Mizuki’s childhood friend and former bandmate, and so embarks upon a career as a female idol just to get Mizuki’s attention. When this plan fails, he decides to make a serious bid for stardom, at which point Mizuki communicates her feelings for him in song (barf) and declares that he’s her prince (barf), causing him to abandon the project. On top of Akira’s personality changing half a dozen times over the course of the volume, everything that happens is just so stupid and pointless that I am profoundly relieved that my completist nature will only compel me to to endure one more volume of this mess. – Michelle Smith

Ninja Papa, Vol. 3 | By Yasuto Yamamoto | JManga – I think the author is starting to run out of ways to use his basic theme—I am a wimpish salaryman who nevertheless becomes a BADASS NINJA when pushed—as volume 3’s confrontations seem less over the top and silly, which was really the main reason to read this series in the first place. Honestly, there was too much salaryman and not enough ninja. We get the basic seinen themes restated – don’t let go of your dreams, stand up for what you believe in, even an ugly nebbish loser can attract gorgeous women. Halfway through things perk up when we get a flashback that shows us how Nobuo met his wife and began to doubt the ways of the clan. Unfortunately, his wife proves to be as just one-dimensionally sweet and wonderful in the past. There’s still cool ninja moves, but this series is starting to lose me. -Sean Gaffney

Punch Up!, Vol. 1 | By Shiuko Kano | SuBLime Manga – I’m late to the party on this title, which I only picked up after repeated recommendations in the comments of last week’s BL Bookrack: Best of 2012—and the reasons for those recommendations is pretty clear. Punch Up! is a smart, sexy title with just the right balance of honest characterization and guy-on-guy action for pleasing nearly any BL fan. Shiuko Kano serves up a host of messy characters in messy relationships (the best kind for storytelling, if you ask me), and if it all feels just a bit rushed, well, that’s the fantasy kicking in. That last bit is my only real quibble with the series so far, and I’m anxious to see if things slow down to a more believable pace over the next few volumes. Recommended. – MJ

RIN-NE, Vol. 10 | By Rumiko Takahashi | VIZ Media – It’s been a full year since I last reviewed RIN-NE, and most of what I said about it back then still applies, especially as relates to the part about nothing ever changing in the characters’ personal relationships. Still, I usually enjoy a volume of RIN-NE a bit more than this one, which has rather too much Ageha—a young, belligerent tsundere of a shinigami—for my liking. The chapters having to do with her contentious relationship with her contracted black cat are particularly draining. And speaking of—I need to start a tally box for how many ghosts died as a result of overwork and strain! Maybe this is a common problem in Japan or something. Anyway, Takahashi never fails to muster some fun moments, but there are certainly better volumes of RIN-NE (even if not substantially different). -Michelle Smith

Soul Eater NOT!, Vol. 2 | By Atsushi Ohkubo | Yen Press – The least interesting part of this spinoff for me is what seems to be attracting others – the moe cuteness. I find it far less cute than I’d like, and the faux-yuri shenanigans are simply grating, mostly as they’re so obviously tease with no payoff. That said, I did enjoy this volume more than Volume 1, for two reasons. First, we got to see the series (a prequel to Soul Eater proper) interact with the main title. Liz and Patti as grumpy, just-arrived-at-DWMA waitresses was a thing of beauty, and Maka reminds us once again why she’s the heroine of the main series. Secondly, the dark horror overtones that is a primary reason to read Soul Eater aren’t totally whitewashed here, as the cliffhanger is sudden, tragic and chilling. All of which shows I can never take anything by Ohkubo at face value. -Sean Gaffney